Military leaders have ordered the National Guard in every state to develop a 'quick reaction force' of trained troops ready to respond to civil disturbances and riots within hours. This decision underscores the Trump administration's ambition to more readily deploy soldiers within U.S. borders. Recent memos outline coordinated efforts among Guard units across all 50 states and U.S. territories (excluding D.C.) to form special forces tasked with riot control and civil unrest response.
Signed by Major Gen. Ronald Burkett, the memos lay out a training program for approximately 23,000 troops. Each state's force is estimated at roughly 500, culminating in a significant national readiness initiative. Additionally, D.C. is instructed to maintain an active duty military police battalion with 50 active Guard members.
The directive aligns with Trump's push for an expanded military presence in handling illegal immigration and crime, marking a notable shift in policy that often faces pushback from local Democratic leaders. While the National Guard usually aids in natural disasters, this new program emphasizes tactical training, including proper use of control equipment and advanced crowd management.
The new, specialized units are expected to deploy a quarter of their members in emergency situations within eight hours, with full readiness within one day. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has acknowledged the implementation of multiple layers of National Guard response forces.
Despite all efforts to deploy troops in urban areas, legal challenges remain prevalent, blocking actions in places like Chicago and Portland pending further review.
Each unit must operationalize and report their progress monthly, preparing to train specifically in tactics deemed necessary as part of the quick response force mandate expected to take effect by January 1, 2026.
Signed by Major Gen. Ronald Burkett, the memos lay out a training program for approximately 23,000 troops. Each state's force is estimated at roughly 500, culminating in a significant national readiness initiative. Additionally, D.C. is instructed to maintain an active duty military police battalion with 50 active Guard members.
The directive aligns with Trump's push for an expanded military presence in handling illegal immigration and crime, marking a notable shift in policy that often faces pushback from local Democratic leaders. While the National Guard usually aids in natural disasters, this new program emphasizes tactical training, including proper use of control equipment and advanced crowd management.
The new, specialized units are expected to deploy a quarter of their members in emergency situations within eight hours, with full readiness within one day. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has acknowledged the implementation of multiple layers of National Guard response forces.
Despite all efforts to deploy troops in urban areas, legal challenges remain prevalent, blocking actions in places like Chicago and Portland pending further review.
Each unit must operationalize and report their progress monthly, preparing to train specifically in tactics deemed necessary as part of the quick response force mandate expected to take effect by January 1, 2026.
